Elections and The Electoral Process

An electoral process is the method and law for holding an election and explains laws and custom that must be followed by all partakers and must produce free and fair elections.

The Electoral process is divided into three phases and is made up of eight sections being:

1.Pre-Election Phase

§Electoral legislation: refers to laws protected in the Constitution and State Acts in Zambia this is the Electoral Code of Conduct.

§Delimitation of Constituencies: This is the process whereby the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) consults citizens on the drawing up of boundaries of constituencies and wards.

§Registration of Voters: This is the process where all persons who are eligible to vote register themselves and obtain a voter’s card to allow them to vote through the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)

§Nominations: This is where each political party and independent candidates file in their papers to contest Presidential, Parliament and local government elections through the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

§Campaign Period: This is the process where different political parties and independent candidates campaign to get people to vote for them by presenting the intended programmes and projects they intend to implement for the people once elected into office.

2.Election Day

§Voting: This is the day that people who have registered to vote and have a voter’s card go to a polling station to secretly vote for the candidate of their choice.

§Counting of the Votes: This is the process immediately after voting is closed where votes are counted in the presence of all partakers under the watchful eye of election monitors and observers.

§Announcement of results: This is the process where the Presiding Officer records the number of votes for each candidate within that polling station and Party agents and observers check to ensure the results are correct. This is when the Returning Officer adds the results from all the polling stations and announces the results of the elections at the collation center.

3.Post Elections

§Review of Elections: This is the process whereby partakers review concerns of election malpractice that reflect or show that the elections were either not free or fair.

Zambia’s Electoral System uses the ‘First Past, The Post’ system since independence in 1964 and this means that

§The country is divided into roughly equal constituencies from which only one representative is chosen to sit in parliament.

§Candidates contesting elections stand as individuals and not political parties even when supported by a political party.

§Independent candidates are allowed to contest any constituency in elections

§The winner of the election can secure needed votes and not majority votes and becomes the winner.

General Principles of Elections are that they:

§People’s choose their representatives

§Serve to give direction and guidance for public office appointments

§Demonstrate the people’s sovereignty

§Ensure accountability of politicians

§Give legitimacy to governments.

Principal Functions of the Electoral Process

§Promote and ensure effective representation in the three arms of government

§Register people’s views

§Allows for choice and formation of government

§Mechanism for holding elected officials accountable

§Provides choice in terms of policy design and implementation

§Facilitation and promotion of a competitive political party system.

The Stability of the Electoral Process depends on the following:

§It must be highly understood by voters for it to be effective and get as many Zambians as possible to participate

§It must be affordable to the State

KEY PARTAKERS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND THEIR ROLES

§ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA

ðThis is the body that has been mandated and protected by the constitution to manage elections and the electoral process in Zambia.

ðThe constitution does not require the ECZ to conduct civic and voter education (CVE) but it has taken the initiative due to high levels of voter apathy in Zambia.

ðECZ established the National Voter Education Committee (NVEC) in 2001 to promote a non-partisan voter education programme nationwide to encourage people to participate in the electoral process. NVEC is made up of 11 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and it provides support to the commission and is decentralized to include District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) that operates at district level.

§POLITICAL PARTIES IN ZAMBIA

ðPolitical parties are divided into the ruling party and the opposition and the opposition’s job is to provide check and balances to the ruling party.

ðParties bring people with similar political ideas together

ðThey are a forum for people with varied interests to meet, organize and campaign

ðProvide organizational support in organizing and financing election campaigns, developing policies and recruiting members

ðParties develop policies and determine party attitudes to legislation and issues of the day.

ðAre avenues for community groups to influence the decision making process

ðAre main avenues for political debate and discussion in local communities

ðIn Zambia political parties are being encouraged to participate in civic and voter education

§CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

ðAre influential in holding government and the opposition accountable on various issues

ðThey are answerable to the people of Zambia and promote the needs and wishes of the people.

ðThey lobby and advocate government and the state in design and implementation of public policy.

ðThey monitor and observe elections and the electoral process

ðThey conduct civic and voter education

§CITIZENS

ðThis refers to the group of registered voters in possession of a valid voter’s card.

ðEach Zambia must claim their right to vote as it is protected in the Constitution

ðEach citizen only has one vote

ðEach one has an equal opportunity to participate in elections and this opportunity is protected in the constitution.

ðMust consistently denounce all forms of electoral malpractices and violence

ðMust undertake Civic and Voter Education programmes

ðMust include programmes that provide outreach activities for persons with disabilities.

§YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

ðMust be supported to reach for leadership positions

ðMust seek to be adequately represented in all political party structures

ðYouth must consistently denounce electoral violence and openly refuse to be used as militias by their party leadership and instead demand to be given progressive and constructive roles in their party structures and be recognized as future leaders of tomorrow.

ðYouth must demand to be groomed to take over party positions in the future.

ðPersons with disabilities must claim their rights to run for local office and have their voices heard through the media.

§VOTER MOBILIZATION: YOUR VOTE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

WHAT IS VOTING?

The process of choosing representatives that will promote you wishes and needs and include you in decision making at all levels of governance.

WHAT IS VOTER REGISTRATION?

This is the process whereby those who are eligible to vote register themselves and obtain a voter’s card to allow them to vote through the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE?

ðA Zambian citizen in possession of a Green National Registration Card.

ð18 years of age or will turn 18 by 31st July 2011.

I AM VOTING ON THE BASIS OF MY PARTNER OR PARENT’S CHOICE

ðNo voting is your secret and only you should know. You must refuse to share the name of the person you are voting for and nobody can force you to reveal it. This secret is protected by the law. Guard it closely.

ðIf somebody is pressuring you to reveal your secret stand your ground, this is a secret known by you and God.

ðYour partner and parents cannot and should not determine the choice of your vote.

HOW DO I DETERMINE WHO TO VOTE FOR?

ðConsider if the candidate is focused on issues of importance to you as an individual.

ðConsider issues such as service delivery in your communities.

ðConsider issues such as social and economic development policies affecting or that matter in your community

ðConsider how you engage with your leaders, do they listen to you and include you in policy design and implementation?

ðConsider if they promote and protect your basic fundamental rights.

ðConsider if they promote peace and dialogue in their engagement.

ðConsider if they share your morals and beliefs and if their actions are a reflection of this.

ðConsider if the leaders

HOW WILL MY VOTE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

ðBy choosing a leader of your choice you will be giving yourself a chance to determine social and economic policies through community structures such as the Parliamentary Liaison Offices (PLO).

ðA chance to access effective service delivery through engagement with Local Councillors through council meetings and using these forums to hold your elected leaders accountable.

ðA chance to see the promotion and protection of rights that matter to you.

ðA chance to shape the history of your country

ðA chance to be fair represented at all structures of government.

WHAT CAN I DO TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE?

ðShare this information with your friends and family

ðParticipate in all discussion forums in your communities

ðTake advantage of the volunteers that are in your communities to get more information on elections and the electoral process.

ðPreach peace and dialogue and denounce violence

ðRemind each other that elected leaders are servants of the people and it is your vote that gives them this privilege that you can take away at an election.

I AM A YOUTH HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY COMMUNITY?

ðEngage your leadership to support to leadership development forums to mobilize voters

ðLobby and advocate to be adequately represented at all political party structures

ðConsistently denounce electoral violence and openly refuse to be used as pawns of violence

ðLobby, advocate and demand to be given progressive and constructive roles in your party structures and be recognized as future leaders of tomorrow. This can be done by attending community meetings and public discussion forums.

ðIf you are within the age group, take a chance and run for public office to help shape the destiny of your community and country.

I AM A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY COMMUNITY?

ðYou must claim your rights to run for local office and have your voices heard by attending community meetings and public discussion forums

ðLobby, advocate and demand to be adequately represented at all structures in your community.

ðOrganize community meetings to discuss issues that affect you and issues that you want your leaders to address to get your vote.

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA IS NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH

ðThe ECZ is constrained mainly by legal issues that can only be corrected through a change of the constitution and the electoral laws of the country.

ðThe ECZ is not protected under the constitution to be independent from Government and the State.

ðThe ECZ is not protected under the constitution to do its job without fear, favour and prejudice.

ðThe ECZ does not have offices at all districts and all provinces nation wide

ðThe ECZ is not given enough money to support it to be effective

ðThe President has too much power of the work of the ECZ

WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ISSUES IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS TO LOOK OUT FOR?

ðAn electoral malpractice refers all forms of vote buying and gift giving in all forms. You can make a difference by encouraging members in your community not to let this determine your right to vote.

ðThere is limited enforcement of the Electoral Code of Conduct and you have a moral responsibility to use all council meetings and public discussion forums to lobby and advocate your community leaders to lobby and advocate for the Electoral Code of Conduct to be enforced.

ðThe selective application of the Public Order Act violates the right to freedom of association and this excludes participation by people in and outside your community.

About FODEP

FODEP is a civic, non-governmental organization dedicated to the promotion and strengthening of democratic governance in Zambia through advocacy and civic education programmes on the electoral process, local governance and development, and human rights.

The organization was formed in 1992 as a successor to the Zambia Election Monitoring Coordinating Committee (ZEMCC), a consortium of civil society organizations which was in-turn formed in 1991 to monitor Zambia's first round of multi-party elections.

FODEP's Vision

We envision a democratic Zambia where government is accountable to its citizens and in which all citizens freely and willingly participate in the social, political and economic affairs of the country.